Africa-Press – Lesotho. Poultryfarmers have recently been hit by bird flu called avian influenza which affected many of Basotho chicken farms. As thus, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hon.
Likopo Mahase announced to the public last week that they have managed to put this disease under control in the country. Mahase explained that following the outbreak that hit the farms at Ha Penapena, Maseru
and Sebothoane, Leribe late in May and early June 2021, the Ministry took initiative to put the disease under control and prohibit its country wide-spread.
“After the hard work by the ministry through the department of livestock, we are pleased to announce that we have managed to put the virus at bay,” he said. Mahase
further said in an effort to protect the public against this disease, which is also environmentally transmissible, the importation of chickens from the
affected areas in South Africa (SA) has been banned. He noted that the outbreak was discovered in several areas in SA, such as Gauteng Province, Free State
(FS), North West (NW), Mpumalanga among others. He also urged the farmers that
when they want to order the chickens in SA, they should go to the Ministry’s offices where they will be guided to the right areas to order from. Ministry
of Agriculture and Food Security Director General Veterinary Services Dr Relebohile Mahloane said there has not been any reported case of a person infected by this virus from the chickens even in SA.
Mahloane further said there are initiatives that were taken by the ministry to make people aware that this disease is viral and can affect several species of food producing birds.
“In Leribe district, about 24 000 infected chickens were killed and 3 000 chickens
were also killed in Maseru. I would like to commend the farmers for their cooperation,” he said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Director Veterinary Field
Operations Dr. Relebohile Lepheana said they received good compliance from the poultry farmers. She added that after the outbreak, by right they have to go back to the places that were affected for survey. She said their return was promising as all chickens now tested negative for avian flu.
